An alumni movement to halt the demolition of the historic Gresham Building at the Galloway School has gained traction since its creation in November with over a thousand petition signatures and some major preservation supporters, but the school’s plan to replace the building has yet to change.
The Galloway School is a private school in Atlanta founded by Elliott Galloway in 1969. He served as headmaster until 1990 and was involved in the school until his death. It teaches about 750 students aged preschool through grade 12 and has had several prominent students, including Martin Luther King III.
In October, the school announced a plan to demolish the 112-year-old former Fulton County Almshouse and replace it with a new building double the size. The Gresham at 215 Chastain Park Ave. was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 by the school itself, but the status doesn’t protect it from demolition.
Alumna Jane Norley started a Change.org online petition calling for a halt to the demolition plan on Nov. 21. In the months since, it has gained over 1,200 signatures.
“It’s a grassroots effort,” Norley said.
Previously, the school said it found issues with functionality, adaptability, environmental impact and sustainability. The new building would also be double the size of the Gresham. The school has previously said it is “incorporating elements of the original building into the design of the new building.”
Norley said the renovation would take a “more conscientious approach to construction” and a longer time, but she believes the school is focused on maintaining its original timeline.
“The head of the school remains not open to the concept of preserving the historic building,” Norley said.
Norley and some other active alumni formally created the Galloway Alumni and Supporters for Preservation group, or GASP, to bring together like-minded individuals. Recently the group found new members in the children of school founders Elliott and Kitty Galloway.
Charlie Galloway, Elliott’s son, said it would be a “tragedy” to tear the building down.
“The Gresham is the heart and soul of the Galloway School,” Galloway said.
He first learned about the plan when the school reached out to his siblings about possibly renaming the building. At first, the son of the founder didn’t realize it was an option –– “I thought it was a done deal.”
But Galloway had plenty of memories of the school and the Gresham building. As a college student, he helped his parents restore the building along with dozens of other volunteers. Then, from 1980 to 81, he taught literature and physical education at the school.
Galloway fondly remembers yoga on the porch of the Gresham, where students, faculty, and parents came together to participate.
Months after hearing about the demolition plan, though, a former student of his reached out about the GASP group fighting to keep the building intact.
“I was just thrilled, you know, so you better believe I’m on board with this,” Galloway said.
He joined and posted in the Facebook group for the organization, officially “all on board” with the preservation mission. Galloway said not everyone in his family is on board — his brother supports the demolition and rebuilding — but believes his father would be against tearing Gresham down.
“It’s just about the most opposite thing that my father ever would have been involved with,” Galloway said.
However, representatives from the school said Elliott Galloway’s original vision is being incorporated.
“Elliott Galloway’s vision of education informs every aspect of The Galloway School — including the evolution of our campus,” the school said in a written statement. “We will continue to engage all of our stakeholders in dialogue, keeping our students and community at the heart of everything we do.”
Charlie Galloway isn’t the only Galloway on board with the preservation push. His sister Fran Galloway recently signed onto the GASP group effort.
For Charlie Galloway, the support comes down to three things: the work his parents put into starting the school, the community volunteering to restore the historic property, and his time as a teacher at the school.
“There’s something about that building that is just, it gets translated into the vibration of the school itself,” Galloway said. “Once I found out that there was a group that felt this way about this, I was just elated.”
But the preservation group and the school haven’t reached any solutions yet. Norley said the school has repeatedly deferred the plans from Neighborhood Planning Unit A meetings. The school is seeking a rezoning to allow for the new building and a revision of a special use permit for a new site plan, citing an “urgent need” for a building overhaul that can increase capacity and accessibility.
Norley said the alumni group is pushing for “special consideration” legislation on the school that would include a clause or condition that the building can’t be torn down.
She also mentioned the possibility of creating a committee composed of GASP members, architects, and school representatives to “work together” on a solution. A representative of the school said the committee is still just a “notion” at the moment and not official.
In the meantime, Norley said the alumni are keeping up the preservation work. She’s working on a direct mail campaign to 1,300 households immediately surrounding Galloway and pushing for legislation that has a condition to halt the demolition.
“Our plan is to drill down on neighborhood groups and identify residents within the actual NPU area who are opposed to demolition and who want to see the historic structure remain,” Norley said.
I spent 11 years learning in this building, back when it was the only permanent building on The Galloway School campus. I still often dream I am there, roaming the hallways, classrooms, and courtyard, sitting on the front steps. So much of who I am today, and the values that I hold dear, came from that place. I know that the GASP folks have found historic building preservation funds that could help offset the costs required to make the building structurally sound for the next 112 years, and to enable renovation necessary to keep up with the growing Galloway School Family. I have faith that we can all work together.
I was lucky enough to spend 2 years attending The Galloway School before graduating from there. Those years changed my life and how I viewed education forever.
Recently, I again had the good fortune to return to Galloway to teach a series of afterschool classes.
While much of the school has changed since my days there as a student, it only took two or three steps walking down one of the porches to feel like a student again. All the wonderful memories came flooding back. Walking the halls has always made me consider a history greater than my own. How many other people, who are still with us now or who have been lost in the decades and centuries of time, would also be able to remember memories of years gone by.
I whole heartedly believe the Gresham building has earned its place in history and should remain a part of The Galloway School, Chastain Park and Atlanta.
Well I spent twelve years total as a Trustee at Galloway and it certainly was a learning experience for me in my relationship with Elliot and Joe Richardson. I certainly am indebted to Elliot Galloway and the school for not only teaching me but educating both of my children and now one of my Grandchildren. The Gresham Building is an important legacy in many ways to both students, faculty and folks like me who all have memories of the warmth and history of this building. Simply put tearing the building down could not be more insensitive to the history and culture of the school that Elliot Galloway so loved.
Robert, I can’t help but believe that your esteemed brother, Bradley Currey, Jr., would wholeheartedly agree with you!
I am sure he would Connie though he would likely let me get into the fight and he would agree and just smile!
I graduated from Galloway and my mother worked there for many years. My memories of my time there are precious and important to me. It was a wonderful place. Still, if you dig deep you will see the cost to repair/refurbish/bring the old, sagging, building up to code, is impractical. The cost to demolish and improve is more prudent and advantageous to the future school, and less $. If you have been absent from school activities for decades, and didn’t start a grassroots campaign when I had to be taught in a trailer or fell through the rotten floor between classes then you should educate yourself about the plan and the cost before complaining or criticizing.
I never have attended Galloway, but play golf regularly at the Chastain Golf Course. I am amazed that while discussing retaining this building or at least its front façade, that there is no discussion of addressing parking. Doubling the size will create extreme congestion, esp during the morning and afternoon peak access times and , since the school does not seem to restrict teachers and student parking, where do the additional vehicles park? There is extreme congestion now especially during special functions such as parents days. Maybe to school will build and donate to the city a parking deck in the “hole” across the street that now serves as their overflow parking. Otherwise what is your plan to address traffic? Restrictions for students and parents? Buses(which appear to be non existent today) ? How does taxpayers enjoy the park and golf course if this happens?
Where is the petition? I’d like to sign it.
Eloise Mills
eloise@williammills.com
Hi Eloise,
Here is the petition.: https://www.change.org/SaveGalloway
Thank you for signing!
You can also find it at SaveHistoricGalloway.com
Save Galloway before it’s too late
Today, the leadership of the Galloway School acted in bad faith by demolishing the historic Gresham Building before receiving approvals for new construction to attempt to strong-arm public servants into approving a zoning variance. This is not acting with integrity. As a school board member for another school and as a public school board candidate, I cannot fathom this level of breaking faith with the public, the neighborhood, and your alumni.